How short a time ago that had been, merely a few days, yet in that time Kira's world had been turned inside out and upside down. The ryoka had invaded the sereite to stop Rukia Kuchiki's execution. Captain Aizen had been murdered and Momo had attacked his captain. Kira shuddered involuntarily as he thought back to that fight, he didn't want to fight her, not Momo… but Gin was his captain and he could not let anyone draw a blade against his captain. That fight had cost him. Kira's mind drifted back to that time he spent in the cell, those thoughts that were running through his head, the fear and doubt that crept into his heart… But it all faded away when he arrived. Gin, his captain and so much more, all fear and doubt melted away when he spoke. Closing his eyes, Kira could still see it, looking up through those iron bars, Gin standing there smiling, his hand held out to him through the bars. A moment of hesitation on Kira's part, and then he stood taking his captain's hand and was soon following him back to squad three barracks. The chain of events that followed were still a blur to Kira as he tried to make sense of it all and tried to convince himself it was all lies.

The ryoka had managed to rescue Rukia and save her from the execution with the help of Lieutenant Abarai Renji. Gin had ordered him to keep Rangiku away while he put the final parts of his plan into action. Kira had done so to the best he was able. Even now, he could still hear her words in his ears, that one question she half asked half yelled at him.

"Why Izuru!? Why?"

"Because he is my captain."

Kira sank to his knees, his trembling legs no longer able to hold him up. Isane Kotetsu had just made the announcement, the announcement that forever shattered the dream world Kira realized he had been living in. Captains Aizen, Tousen, and Ichimaru… were traitors? It couldn't be. Aizen had killed Momo? No, it couldn't be, he swore he wouldn't let Aizen hurt anyone. Kira knelt there outside the squad three barracks as silent tears of fear, anger, and betrayal filled his eyes. Just then, his captain's voice echoed in his ears once more.

"Izuru… before this is all over, they will say things about me. Some true and some false. It is up to you, my Litty Kira, to determine for yourself which you will believe and which you will reject."

Kira could still feel the gentle touch as Gin laid his hand on the top of his head, those red eyes looking into his.

"If at the end of this, I still have your loyalty Izuru, meet me at the execution hill and come with me."

Kira stood, his hand gripping Wabisuke as he turned and started running towards the hill. As he approached he could see Aizen, Tousen, Abarai, Rukia, and the ruoka boy there… and thre was Gin, off to the side scanning the area as if he was looking for something. Running closer, Kira could now hear what they were saying as he stopped underneath one of the nearby trees.

Gin's eyes meet Kira's for a moment. Just then, the orange haired ryoka boy attacked Captain Aizen. He didn't stand a chance though, Aizen easily blocked the blow with minimal effort. Gin turned away from Izuru and spoke.

"My fault, Aizen-san. You said not to interfere so I let the boy pass."

Kira saw a quick gleam in his captain's eyes as he watched the events unfold before him. From behind the tree we watched, still and silent, waiting for his captain to call him.

"Gin!"

Kira turned his head with a sharp jerk at the familiar voice. There, running up behind him, was Rangiku and several other of the captains and lieutenants. For a split second his and Rangiku's eyes meet and Kira swore he saw a look of sadness and betrayal in them as she ran by.

"Rangiku! No!" Kira cried out as he ran a few steps away from his hiding place.

He stood there, lost and forgotten by everyone as he watched. Rangiku ran up behind Gin and grabbing his wrist, held her blade at his throat. Kira could have sworn he saw her lips trembling slightly. SoiFon and Yourichi held Captain Aizen while his old school mate Hisagi restrained his onw captain, Tousen.

Aizen started to laugh and as everyone's attention was drawn to him, three beams of strange golden light shot down from the sky, enveloping the three captains. SoiFon, Yourichi, Hisagi, and Rangiku all jumped back just in time. Everyone's attention was focused on Aizen and the others as they ascended into the sky with the help of the hollows, and the full extent of the betrayal was realized.

Gin gazed down at his fellow shinigami, and he saw Rangiku standing there gazing up at him, a single tear of betrayal in her eye. Behind her, at the edge of the clearing and lost to everyone there, was his lieutenant. Kira sank to his knees in disbelief. No, it wasn't suppose to happen like this… not like this.

"Pity you couldn't have held on a little longer… I would like to have stayed your prisoner for a while longer."

His eyes looking past Rangiku and locking Kira's, with those words, Gin disappeared along with Aizen and Tousen as the rip in the sky over soul society closed and all trace of the captains was lost.

Two voices sounded at the same time, calling out the same name- each so loud they could only hear themselves, as the lieutenant and childhood friend were forced to face the truth of Gin Ichimaru.

It had been weeks since the betrayal, weeks since his world had been turned upside down, and weeks since he had talked to anyone outside his own squad. All of the sereitie was in turmoil and confusion. Three captains were gone; three squads, including his, now struggled to continue on without the men who had been their leaders and captains for so many years.

There was talk of who would be the replacements for the captains. Shuhei Hisagi was of course the obvious choice for Squad 9's new captain. Squad 5 had enough troubles trying to tend to Momo to be worried about a replacement for Aizen. And Squad 3… well his squad was a wreck. Naturally, everyone looked to him as lieutenant to step in now. Izuru wanted to, he wanted to be able to help, but he was too torn and broken by his own thoughts and emotions to do much good.

"Ever since I became a shinigami, what good have I done? Have I not had one thought that was for myself or of my own design? Was everything I have done a lie?" Those questions haunted him every moment- whether awake or asleep.

So it was that he had not left the squad three barracks in close to three weeks. When he finally left the seclusion of the barracks, there was one place and one place alone on his mind. A short time later, he was standing outside squad 10 barracks, speaking with Captain Hitsugaya. A short time later he was walking into the Captain's study. There sitting quietly in a chair by the window, lost in thought was Rangiku.

"She's taken it almost as bad as you have, Kira," Hitsugaya said.

Matsumoto turned her head quickly, hearing her captain's voice.

"Captain, you startled me!" she exclaimed.

Hitsugaya rolled his eyes as he nudged his head back towards where Kira was standing in the doorway.

"Someone wants to see you."

Rangiku turned and looked past her captain to the blonde haired shinigami standing in the doorway. His head was down, his eyes cast to the floor, and he looked awful.

Rangiku smiled sadly as she stood, bowing slightly to her captain in thanks.

"Kira…" she said softly.

"Matsumoto…" Kira whispered softly.

Reaching out and putting a hand on her friend's shoulder Rangiku smiled.

"Let's have a drink Kira."

Looking up through the golden locks that fell in face, Izuru saw a genuine smile, and he suddenly remember just how much he had trusted Rangiku in the past.

Nodding slightly they sat down together, and for the first time in way too long, they talked with each other – honestly.